Frank Sokasits

Sokasits, Frank Sokasits, Frank F.Frank F. Sokasits, better known as "Sam," died November 11, 2015 in Pittsburgh, PA. He was 85. He was born and raised on Nazareth's West End, within the German-speaking immigrant community surrounding Holy Family Catholic Church. He resided in the Lehigh Valley until 2012, when he moved to Pittsburgh to live with his children. He was pre-deceased by his parents, Ferdinand and Anna Sokasitz, and all seven of his older sisters: Theresa, Helen, Anna, Margaret, Dorothy, Florence and Josephine. He is survived by: his four children, David, Joseph, Anita and Jonathan; his daughter-in-law, Karen; his former wife, Margaret Sokasits; and a large extended family of nieces, nephews and relatives by marriage. Frank volunteered for the US Army and served as a cook and translator in Landshut, Germany from 1948 to 1952. He achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant. After the Army, he worked as a Penn-Dixie Cement laborer, an Ingersoll-Rand machinist, and the Nazareth YMCA building manager. He was appreciated for his stories, his cooking, and his musicianship. At age 5, he began playing traditional music on the German button box accordion. As a teenager, he started entertaining at weddings and parties. As an adult, he repaired accordions. He kept playing music at home and with friends at the Saengerbund and Liederkranz. Services: Services will be held in Nazareth on Saturday, November 21, 2015. Calling hours will be at 9:30 a.m. at the Joseph F. Reichel Funeral Home at 220 Washington Park, followed by an 11:00 a.m. Mass at Holy Family Church, and burial in Holy Family Cemetery. Flowers and condolences may be sent to the funeral home.